ping and Ratcliffe, and even down to Blackwall, also that some persons had died of it in Rotherhithe and Deptford, they expected they should be, as it were, surrounded; so the captain, at their request, weighed and fell down the river to Bugby's Hole, a secure place for ships to ride in.

The vessel they were in carried 16 guns, and could carry 24; so that they lived at large, and had room enough. The merchants and family had the great cabin and steerage to themselves, with some others built for his maidservants and children in the gun-room. The captain had the round-house and the little room before it, which they called the cuddie, for his family, and the quarter deck was their parade, over which an awning was thrown; and being closely covered at the top and sides, it appeared like a great hall. Here they rode with much satisfaction all the rest of the month of August, when the last weekly bill amounted to the frightful number of 7496, exclusive of those who died in Deptford and Greenwich.

While they thus lay in Bugby's Hole, the captain and the merchant's brother ventured down to Woolwich, or to the upper end of the town; but did not go on shore; neither were the people willing at first that they should, not knowing whence they came, or how they fared on-board. They were the more wary, as they knew that in the parishes of Bromley, Blackwall, Poplar, Limehouse, Bow, Old Ford, Bethnal Green, Mile End, &c. there died 1026 that very week.

However, the visit to Woolwich answered the purpose intended. They learned that the town was not yet infected, excepting two houses at a little distance towards Greenwich, where three or four had died; that the market was yet pretty well supplied with provisions: so they got a poor woman of that place to purchase them fresh butter, eggs, and a good deal of garden stuff. Apples in particular were a great relief to them, having been so long confined to salt meats, very different from their former way of living. They also purchased such fresh meats as pork and veal. But by the next market day the plague had got so far into the town that the country people came but very thinly to market. This source being thus interrupted, the captain made a little voyage in his boat to

Barking Creek; but here he was informed by the fishing smacks at the mouth of it that the plague had got in there also. The truth they did not stay to ascertain, but came back.

The merchant after this growing impatient, they weighed and went down to Greenhithe, where they heard that the plague was at Gravesend, Chatham, and Rochester, but happily this news proved premature; yet as the merchant could not bear to be anywhere with the ship, if the plague was beyond him, he made the captain fall down again to Gravesend, and passing the town he came to an anchor below a place since called "The New Tavern," being as far as the custom-house officers would let him pass without clearing.

In fine, they agreed at last to come up the river again, not to Greenhithe where they lay before, but to the upper part of what they call Long Reach. Here they had good and safe riding, though not without some blustering weather. Here lay six other vessels, two above them, and four below; and though they did not go on-board each other, yet they soon became acquainted, and conversed upon the state of public affairs. They soon found these were outward-bound ships, but embargoed, as it were, by the general calamity; that the captains had all their families on-board, with others, and had fallen down there for safety from the plague; and that hitherto there had not been the least illness among them. They had not been there above three days, when the head most ship made a signal to the rest, which they found was to know if they would join in a weekly fast, which the six ships had observed ever since they rode there, to beg of the Almighty to preserve them from the pestilence; and further stated, that they should be glad if these would join them in it. This being agreed to, an officer in a boat informed the single ship that they began at eight the next morning, and resolved not to eat or drink till six in the evening. Accordingly, they kept a most religious day of fasting and humiliation; the captain and his family remained in the roundhouse, &c. and none of them were employed otherwise than in reading and acts of devotion during that day.

Three days after this, Sept. 6, 1665, they received the Weekly Bill of Mortality, stating that from the 29th of

August

1825.]

August till the 5th of September, the number of the dead was 8252, and of the plague and spotted fever 1145. The next resolution partly agreed to by the captains, owners, and people on-board, was to put to sea, and sail, if need were, to freland, where they might be furnished with provisions, and ride in safety. The principal merchant assured them that he would stand by them and assist them, if they would agree to stand by one another; and that as they were seven sail, all of good force, the people wherever they came might be compelled to furnish them with provisions for their money; or they might go on shore and dwell at Jarge, as they found convenient, till this terrible judgment should be overpast. After all, the women being afraid of the sea at that time of the year, and though much time was lost in debate, the proposal was never fully agreed upon. Three dismal weeks had now been worn out in these consultations and ansteady resolutions, the poor ladies being afraid to stay, and afraid to go away. At length, on the 29th of September, Michaelmas day, they were surprised early in the morning to hear the head most ship fire five guns. Look ing out, they found she had spread her ancient and pendants, and all looked with a face of joy. They then began to call to one another with their speaking-trumpets, when they discovered a boat coming off to give them an account of things; in fact the number of burials was decreased near 2000. Guns were now fired, and the people in the ships drank to each other. Boats now began to pass and repass as usual to and from London; but none of these would they suffer to come on-board, nor any of their own people to go on shore; and in this cautious manner they lived out the whole of November, at which time the burials in London amounted to no more than 428, most of the parishes being entirely clear of the plague. Accordingly they weighed from Long Reach, and came to an anchor near Limehouse. This was followed by mutual visits and congratulations.

While they continued here the merchant's family sent some of their servants to town, to open and air the house, make fires in the rooms, air and warn the beds, and dry the linen. Nevertheless, the hangings were taken down and all burnt, except the tapestry; as GENT. MAG. July, 1825.

baking, or washing them in vinegar and drying them afterwards, was not deemed sufficiently safe.

Thus, after four months absence, all things being prepared within doors, they returned to their habitation sound and in health; their measures for preparation and preservation being such as may be justly recommended as an example to others.

Mr. URBAN,

July 6. Tsented in the parish of Locking HE small village of Hemington is ton, in the angle of the county of Leicester South of the Trent, near to Donington Castle, and ten miles North-east from Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

The population of the "parish" of Hemington in 1801, was, Males 171, Feinales 166, total 337; consisting of 73 families, inhabiting 71 houses. In 1811 the "township" of Hemington contained Males 197, Females 187, total 384; families 89, inhabiting_78 houses; and in 1821, Males 222, Females 199, total 421; families 91, inhabiting 81 houses.

The families of de Quency, Crophull, Beaumont, Verdon, Langton, and Devereux, held at various times property here, as did the Abbey of St. Mary de Pratis at Leicester. The family of Harpur subsequently became possessed of the manor.

Near the Church are the remains of an old mansion, with a very thick wall about it.

Of the Church, a venerable fragment, little remains. (See Plate II.) The whole of the nave is demolished three beautiful arches only remaining to shew what it once was. The pillars which support them are plain and low; from which the arches spring to a considerable height. The tower is tolerably preserved, and has over it a small spire. The chancel still remains. The two windows on the South side of it are divided into two compartments; their mullions a trefoil, and over that a quatrefoil. The roof is lofty, and the East window was rather large. The desecration of the Church appears to have taken place some centuries ago. Mr. Wyrley, who visited it about 1590, says, "it is a fair Church, but the glass all ruined, and the Church not in use to the end it was builded. We suffer propter neglectum Domûs Dei." The whole is now a picturesque ruin.

L. S.

Mr.

18

Mr. URBAN,

July 5.

YOUR Correspondent J. A. (part i. p. 309) having communicated some valuable information relative to Earl Coningsby's Topographical Collections, allow me to offer the following description of the Paintings, Portraits, &c. at Hampton Court in Herefordshire, the ancient seat of the Coningsby family, being the result of a visit there a few years back *.

Henry, Baron Abergavenny, great grandfather to Earl Coningsby (ob. 1642), in the attitude of rising from his seat.

Lady Mary Sackville, daughter of the Earl of Dorset (ob. 1608), wife to Henry, Lord Abergavenny. Three quarters size.

The late Earl Coningsby, greatgrandfather of the present Earl of Essex (ob. 1729), and his two daughters, Margaret (ob. ....) and Frances (ob. 1781), whole lengths, painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller in the year 1722. The Earl is depicted in a sitting posture, resting his right arm on the Holy Bible, grasping in his hand a roll, on which is inscribed, Magna Charta... 9th of Henry the Third. This is my birthright purchased with the blood of my ancestor,' bearing a strong testimony to the violence of his opinions. On the tablet against which the Earl leans, is represented the arms, quarterly of 12, with the supporters, and motto Tacla Libertas.' Underneath is the following: This first Coatt was in this manner borne by John Lord Coningsby Baron of Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, who was slain in the Baron's Warrs in the Reign of King John, the which Town and Castle of Coningsby being then confiscated, is now in the possession of the Lord Shef

[July,

field, and this is approved by the He

ralds upon perusal of the evidence of Humphrey Coningsby of Nend-Sollers, who is lineally descended from the said John.' The Tower of London is in the distance, to which the Earl was committed for some offence he gave in Parliament. Vertue's large engraving is from this painting.

Sir Thomas Coningsby, Founder of the Red Coat Hospital in the City of Hereford (ob. 1625), great-grandfather to Earl Coningsby; with his favourite dwarf Crickett, and Dog; whole length.

The same Sir Thomas, at the age of 21, in 1572.

Phillipa, wife of Sir Thomas, a Fitzwilliam by her father, and a Sidney by her mother's side, 1578.

Another portrait of Sir Thomas, and an excellent piece of moral and religious advice addressed to his son Fitzwilliam Coningsby, when the latter was chosen a member of the House of Commons (lately written fair, framed, and glazed). Dated 20th Dec. 1620.

An undoubted original on wood, of Henry the Fourth, who built Hampton Court, which is said to have been completed with the spoils from Agincourt. This portrait has been often described and engraved. A very accurate copy of it on pannel was made some years ago by Mr. Harris, printer, Leominster.

The Duchess of Cleveland (ob. 709), by Sir Peter Lely.

A View of Coningsby Castle in Lincolnshire, forfeited to the Crown in King John's reign; having been in the family 300 years, which Castle and Barony had descended to them from the Saxons, as by auncient recorde dothe appeare.' §